Spanish Mo-ped trip
Discussion
Hi guys,
For my 21st birthday present my uncle thinks I should do a bit of travelling, but with being self employed I can't , and don't really want to take say, 6 weeks off to travel Europe etc, so we got onto the conversation about the Vietnam top gear moped episode. Obviously Topgear is 90% scripted and I highly doubt that they actually completed the trip in full, but my uncle feels this could be a good idea.
The basic plan is:
3 people including me
Fly to Barcelona
Buy Moped
Stay in the popular Paradores which are, wel, everywhere in Spain
Ride approx 80 miles per day using no motorways (for obvious reasons)
800 miles (ish), we end up in Giblralter (10 days, allowing 14 days for any relaxing days etc)
Travels would include visiting some hard up places, good roads (@30mph I can't see it being much fun) and the whole lot would be documented via video and photos.
Sell moped & fly home
Now, I know it is pretty much a stupid idea, but the idea would be to raise £xxxx each before we go, and all would be donated to charity, and typically we would have Topgear style challenges along the way which would be chosen by the largest donator to the chosen charity....
It seems doable, I'm only 21 and do want to do some traveling, no ive never riden a moped, yes I know how unbearably tedious riding at 30mph WILL be, and the chances of death are against me, but for charity, and it wouldn't really be a trip to remember if it all went swimmingly well now would it whilst driving a Hyundai Getz...
Let me know what you think! along the lines of 'You sir are an idiot, go for it' is just what I'm looking for.....
For my 21st birthday present my uncle thinks I should do a bit of travelling, but with being self employed I can't , and don't really want to take say, 6 weeks off to travel Europe etc, so we got onto the conversation about the Vietnam top gear moped episode. Obviously Topgear is 90% scripted and I highly doubt that they actually completed the trip in full, but my uncle feels this could be a good idea.
The basic plan is:
3 people including me
Fly to Barcelona
Buy Moped
Stay in the popular Paradores which are, wel, everywhere in Spain
Ride approx 80 miles per day using no motorways (for obvious reasons)
800 miles (ish), we end up in Giblralter (10 days, allowing 14 days for any relaxing days etc)
Travels would include visiting some hard up places, good roads (@30mph I can't see it being much fun) and the whole lot would be documented via video and photos.
Sell moped & fly home
Now, I know it is pretty much a stupid idea, but the idea would be to raise £xxxx each before we go, and all would be donated to charity, and typically we would have Topgear style challenges along the way which would be chosen by the largest donator to the chosen charity....
It seems doable, I'm only 21 and do want to do some traveling, no ive never riden a moped, yes I know how unbearably tedious riding at 30mph WILL be, and the chances of death are against me, but for charity, and it wouldn't really be a trip to remember if it all went swimmingly well now would it whilst driving a Hyundai Getz...
Let me know what you think! along the lines of 'You sir are an idiot, go for it' is just what I'm looking for.....
Insurance - can a non-resident insure a bike in Spain?
Selling moped at the end - do you think there's a big market for shagged mopeds in Gib, and how long will you have to sell it?
Raising money for charidee - you'll donate all of it? really? won't people suspect they are being asked to subsidise your holiday in 4/5 star hotels in Spain? Is dicking around on a moped much of an achievement to sponsor?
Why don't you get some mountain bikes and cycle the pilgrims route from Paris to Santiago de Compostela? - that would involve some effort, could be done more cheaply, and is more of an achievement worth sponsoring.
Selling moped at the end - do you think there's a big market for shagged mopeds in Gib, and how long will you have to sell it?
Raising money for charidee - you'll donate all of it? really? won't people suspect they are being asked to subsidise your holiday in 4/5 star hotels in Spain? Is dicking around on a moped much of an achievement to sponsor?
Why don't you get some mountain bikes and cycle the pilgrims route from Paris to Santiago de Compostela? - that would involve some effort, could be done more cheaply, and is more of an achievement worth sponsoring.
This reminds me; driving home on the M1 (going north) last week, I heard the unmistakeable sound of a very small engine being utterly hammered.
I looked around to seea nut-case an absolute legend on an old style vespa type thing hunched in behind his "fairing", with a huge rucksack on his back, overtaking an HGV on the downhill section between the M18 and Sheffield Parkway. I passed him at around 80mph, and I'd guess he was cracking on at around 65mph.
It was raining at the time as well.
Edited to give due credit to the moped rider, and also to say, the trip sounds brilliant. Me and my brothers have often talked about doing a huge european road trip in a big old merc barge, or a landrover or something. If only we were all still single and not mortgaged to death!
Do it!!!!!
I looked around to see
It was raining at the time as well.
Edited to give due credit to the moped rider, and also to say, the trip sounds brilliant. Me and my brothers have often talked about doing a huge european road trip in a big old merc barge, or a landrover or something. If only we were all still single and not mortgaged to death!
Do it!!!!!
Edited by TeaNoSugar on Thursday 13th October 16:41
tjob said:
Uncle says they are hostels in a castle, sounds fun!
"hostels" 
- try luxury hotels - some located in historic buildings, some purpose-built, not necessarily within a day's buzzy moped ride of each other.http://www.parador.es/en/
Bluebarge said:
"hostels" - try luxury hotels - some located in historic buildings, some purpose-built, not necessarily within a day's buzzy moped ride of each other.
http://www.parador.es/en/
In that case we can find other accommodation, this is all just at the planning stage - try luxury hotels - some located in historic buildings, some purpose-built, not necessarily within a day's buzzy moped ride of each other.http://www.parador.es/en/
Money raised will all go to charity, the three of us can all happily afford to make up any losses that our sponsorship may take over the course of the trip....
The idea of mopeds is primarily because it's clearly going to be hell, and thats what people like to see and sponsor accordingly - relate to the Hyundai bit, no one would be bothered if we went in comfort and 'style' - hence already looking for other accommodation
Clearly we're going to have fun, no doubt about it, Shirley that's alllowed and if we can all chuck a grand each at a local charity at the end then I'm all up for it!
"Blatant plug"
But why not join us next year?
No mopeds I'm afraid, but an average of 500 miles a day for 7 days should sort out the men from the boys!
http://www.rallyforheroes.com/
But why not join us next year?
No mopeds I'm afraid, but an average of 500 miles a day for 7 days should sort out the men from the boys!
http://www.rallyforheroes.com/
zx10ben said:
"Blatant plug"
But why not join us next year?
No mopeds I'm afraid, but an average of 500 miles a day for 7 days should sort out the men from the boys!
http://www.rallyforheroes.com/
That looks brilliant, but aren't all the 50 places taken?But why not join us next year?
No mopeds I'm afraid, but an average of 500 miles a day for 7 days should sort out the men from the boys!
http://www.rallyforheroes.com/
tjob said:
In that case we can find other accommodation, this is all just at the planning stage
Money raised will all go to charity, the three of us can all happily afford to make up any losses that our sponsorship may take over the course of the trip....
The idea of mopeds is primarily because it's clearly going to be hell, and thats what people like to see and sponsor accordingly - relate to the Hyundai bit, no one would be bothered if we went in comfort and 'style' - hence already looking for other accommodation
Clearly we're going to have fun, no doubt about it, Shirley that's alllowed and if we can all chuck a grand each at a local charity at the end then I'm all up for it!
Fine, no problem with having fun but you would need to make clear that the charity element will not be subsidising your holiday (ie paying your fuel, food and accomodation bills) before I would dip my hand in my pocket.Money raised will all go to charity, the three of us can all happily afford to make up any losses that our sponsorship may take over the course of the trip....
The idea of mopeds is primarily because it's clearly going to be hell, and thats what people like to see and sponsor accordingly - relate to the Hyundai bit, no one would be bothered if we went in comfort and 'style' - hence already looking for other accommodation
Clearly we're going to have fun, no doubt about it, Shirley that's alllowed and if we can all chuck a grand each at a local charity at the end then I'm all up for it!
I think you will find it a lot easier if you set off from the Uk so you can sort out insurance issues and re-sell the bike without being forced to make a massive loss because you are in a hurry. If I were you, I would look at taking the ferry from the Uk and either landing in Santander and riding to Gib, or do a different route, maybe Dunkirk to the Alps, or take the ferry to Esjberg (Denmark) and ride to Russia (Kaliningrad) which is a similar sort of distance, but a bit more of an achievement worthy of sponsorship than a lads beer trip across Spain. It all depends on how long you are proposing to take for the trip - 800/900 miles may be too far if it doesn't leave you time to do a round-trip.
Bluebarge said:
Insurance - can a non-resident insure a bike in Spain?
Selling moped at the end - do you think there's a big market for shagged mopeds in Gib, and how long will you have to sell it?
Raising money for charidee - you'll donate all of it? really? won't people suspect they are being asked to subsidise your holiday in 4/5 star hotels in Spain? Is dicking around on a moped much of an achievement to sponsor?
Why don't you get some mountain bikes and cycle the pilgrims route from Paris to Santiago de Compostela? - that would involve some effort, could be done more cheaply, and is more of an achievement worth sponsoring.
Jesus doom and gloom galore here Selling moped at the end - do you think there's a big market for shagged mopeds in Gib, and how long will you have to sell it?
Raising money for charidee - you'll donate all of it? really? won't people suspect they are being asked to subsidise your holiday in 4/5 star hotels in Spain? Is dicking around on a moped much of an achievement to sponsor?
Why don't you get some mountain bikes and cycle the pilgrims route from Paris to Santiago de Compostela? - that would involve some effort, could be done more cheaply, and is more of an achievement worth sponsoring.
valiant1 said:
80 miles per day? You'll be suicidal at the end of your trip especially if it's a 50cc jobby.
What, four hours riding per day maximum?!Make a challenge out of it and say 250 miles per day - START in Gibraltar and try and make it back to England in ten days. I'd chuck a tenner at that, if you made a video diary. Google for Team Extreme Trifle for some inspiration.
iva cosworth said:
I seem to be the only person to ask are you buying 1 or 3 mopeds ?
You said A moped .......for 3 people ?
He's going to do it Thai style.You said A moped .......for 3 people ?
valiant1 said:
80 miles per day? You'll be suicidal at the end of your trip especially if it's a 50cc jobby.
And I agree with this. It sounds like torture. I've ridden through spain a bit, albiet on a trail/adventure bike.
I would definitely consider camping, maybe 'wild camping' - this is what I did. While it's actually easier in many parts of the UK to find somewhere to sleep, it shouldn't be a problem.
You could donate the money you would have spent to charity too.
Depending on logistics etc, I would consider piling them up in a van and taking them over from the UK.
Gives you more of a chance to get them setup right and the amount of money you save in having time to buy and sell bikes at your own pace may well pay for the ferry journeys.
80 miles a day at 30mph should be fine - sure you can do more.
I would consider building in an 'off' day or two however. You don't have to use them, but if things go wrong or you just find a cool place to stay, it's nice to have the option.
When I was riding around Europe I often rode in the evening, giving me time to do stuff in the day - however it might not be so great on mopeds - though they are more commonly seen on country roads etc there.
I'm not a great one for "give money to this charity because I'm having fun", but I do like the idea of people getting to choose a 'challenge' for that money.
I like the idea of buying a Hero Honda or similar in India (though it seems there may be some issues just with this) and riding it back to the UK.
I would definitely consider camping, maybe 'wild camping' - this is what I did. While it's actually easier in many parts of the UK to find somewhere to sleep, it shouldn't be a problem.
You could donate the money you would have spent to charity too.
Depending on logistics etc, I would consider piling them up in a van and taking them over from the UK.
Gives you more of a chance to get them setup right and the amount of money you save in having time to buy and sell bikes at your own pace may well pay for the ferry journeys.
80 miles a day at 30mph should be fine - sure you can do more.
I would consider building in an 'off' day or two however. You don't have to use them, but if things go wrong or you just find a cool place to stay, it's nice to have the option.
When I was riding around Europe I often rode in the evening, giving me time to do stuff in the day - however it might not be so great on mopeds - though they are more commonly seen on country roads etc there.
I'm not a great one for "give money to this charity because I'm having fun", but I do like the idea of people getting to choose a 'challenge' for that money.
I like the idea of buying a Hero Honda or similar in India (though it seems there may be some issues just with this) and riding it back to the UK.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff